RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 20980, 19 December 1931, Page 9

RACING NOTES

[By St. Clair.]

RACING. December 26.—Waipukurau Jockey Club. December 26, 28.—Dunedin Jockey Club. December 26, 28.—Taranaki Jockey Club. December 26, 28, 29.—Mariawatu Racing Club. December 26, 29, January 1, 2.—Auckland Baking Club. January I.—Waikouaiti Racing Club. January I.—Wyndham Racing Cub. January 1, 2.—Greymouth Jockey Club. January 1, 2.—Hawke’a Bay Jockey Club. January 1, 2.—Stratford Racing Club. January 1, 2,—Marton Jockey Club. January 1, 2.—Wairarapa Racing Club. January 2.—Oamaru Jockey Club. January 2, 4.—Southland Racing Club. THE NGINGONGINGO CASE. A statement that he would shortly apply through his solicitors to the New Zealand Trotting Conference for reconsideration or a rehearing _of the case in which he appealed against the (Auckland Trotting Club’s disqualification of the horse Ngingongingo for alleged inconsistent running in the Labour Day Handicap, run at the club’s October Meeting, was made by the owner of the horse, Mr R. M. Morten, last evening (says the ‘Press’). Mr Morten has already taken action to restrain the Auckland Club from paying over the stakes of the Labour Day Handicap, in order that, should he be successful if a further appeal is upheld, he will not have to take legal action to recover the money. Ngingongingo was unplaced in an event earlier in the meeting, but won the Labour Day Handicap, and after the race the stewards decided that the horse’s running had been inconsistent and unsatisfactory. The horse was then disqualified for the race and for a period of a year, and the driver, A. Bryce, disqualified for a year. An appeal made to the board of the New Zealand Trotting Association was upheld, the board reversing the judgment of the club committee. The club committee appealed to the Trotting Conference, however, which referred the case to three appeal judges—Messrs H. F. Nicoll, A. T, Donnelly, and B. S. Irwin. The judges allowed the appeal, sustaining the decision of the committee and reversing the judgment of the Trotting Board. The result was that the mem-

bers of the board, with one exception, v resigned office as a protest against that finding. “ The only thing I can do is to apply to the Trotting Conference for a rehearing or a reconsideration of the case, and I intend to do this shortly,” Mr Morten told a representative of the ‘Press.’ Since the board, which heard the appeal against the committee’s decision, had resigned, the application would have to go to the conference.

One of his reasons for taking this action was that the appeal judges were alleged to have heard fresh evidence .without calling the owner of the horse. Asked whether he was prepared to go to the law courts with the ease if the conference refused his application, Mr Morten stated that any further action would rest with his legal advisers.

“As far as I know the case of Ngingongingo is the first in New Zealand in which a horse or rider,has been disqualified under rule 336 of the New' Zealand Rules of Trotting without the alleged grounds of the disqualification being proved,” he said. “ Read, the meaning of the Auckland Trotting Club’s stewards into rule 336, and it simply amounts to this—they say they are not satisfied and out you go. According to their interpretation of the rule, it means hanging a man without proving him guilty.” Rule 336 reads, inter alia: “The stewards at any race meeting may, at the time of holding their meeting, review and consider the running of any trotting hors© which has competed at that meeting . . . and if the stewards believe and are satisfied that the performance of such horse is inconsistent and unsatisfactory the stewards may disqualify such horse or its trainer, horseman, or any or all of them, as they think fit.” Should the case of Ngingongingo go to the law courts it would probably he on the alleged grounds that the disqualifying club had not sufficient evidence to justify the allegation of inconsistency, a prominent trotting owner stated. Any claim for damages against the club would have to be based on those grounds. AT WINGATUI THIS MORNING. The shower of rain overnight was just sufficient at Wingatui to lay the dust, and did not affect the grass gallop on the outside of the course proper, where most of the fast work was done. Royal Saxon and All Smiles _ opened proceedings by running a mile in Imin S2sec, both going very freely. Palermo ana Some Acre were travelling well in a five furlong run, which took them 68 3-ssec. _ Blue Metal and Fair Money finished together over six furlongs in Imin 23eec, and A 1 Jolson, working by himself, recorded the same time, after Tunning his first two furlongs in 25sec. Salmo Salar and Ballance were given strong work on the plough, sprinting home well. Fair Weather ran half a mile, going easily all the way in 60sec. Drawbar and Bulolo were together at the end of five furlongs in 68 2-ssec. Arden’s Beauty and Shock recorded the best half-mile of the morning, taking 51sec for their effort on the rails. Bold Brigand and Bachelor’s Idol ran five furlongs in 69 2-ssec. Ruatui and an unnamed Solferino gelding broke Imin 23sec for six furlongs, Clarenceas heat the Parable colt, who has been named‘ Allude, over six furlongs in Imin 25 2-ssec. Solmar was kept up to it all the way over five furlongs in 66 3-ssec, the best gallop of the morning over that distance. El Boa beat her companion over half a mile on the plough in 55 3-ssec. ’ Royal Limond, Solmuri, and Anne Shakespeare were together at the end of six furlongs in Imin 23sec. Hot Tea and Academy ran five furlongs in 68sec. Palantua ran away from Jester over three furlongs on the rails in 41 4-s!sec. Red Racer, who is still showing signs of a kick received some time ago, took Imin 38 3-ssec to run seven furlongs on the plough. Rose Dart, Miss Planet, and First Song ran half a mile in 54 2-ssec, the latter showing to advantage. River Gold took 54 3-ssec on the rails to run half a mile.

Scotch Tea, Traylavab, and Princess 'Argosy ran five furlongs in 68sec, the former going the best, but none of theift out.

TROTTING. December 26.—Ashburton Trotting Club. December 26.—Gore Trotting Club. December 26, 28.—Westport Tretting Club. December 26, 28.—South Wairarapa Tretting Club. December 28, 30, 31.—Auckland Trotting Club. December 30.—Winton Trotting Club. December 30.—Reefton Trotting Club. January 1, 2.—Canterbury Park Trotting Club. January 4. — Westland Trotting Club. January 5, 6. —Greymouth Trotting Olab. January 10.—Wellington Trotting Club. January 33.—Timaru Trotting Club. January 2S, 30.—Forbury Park Trotting Club. JOTTINGS. The acceptances received by the Dunedin Jockey Club last evening are excellent, and reflect credit upon the work of the club’s handicapper. Several of those who which final payments have not been made have been eased up on account of the hard going. The acceptances total ninety, an average of just on thirteen per race. It is reported that the cause of Gustavo’s engagement in the Auckland Cup not being continued was on account of lameness after winning the President’s Handicap at Dannevirke on Wednesday. Thursday’s ‘ Southland Times ’ states that Night Rose was scratched for her first day’s engagement, and Tea Party for all her races at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s summer fixture, in spite of hints to the contrary in northern Press columns. Three of C. S. Donald’s team — Pluto, Avernus, and Stand By—also S. J. Thomas with Gold Paper, went north on Thursday night to assist at the Auckland Trotting Club’s approaching meeting. Peter Jackson has come into some favour for the Auckland Cup as a result of his success at the Waipa meeting. The successful apprentice H. E. Stockley will ride the three-year-old. An acceptance of only eleven horses for the £2,000 Auckland Cup is disappointing. The most important deflection is Gustavo, who has come into a -.lot of favour through his North Island performances during • the past two weeks. D. Cotton has changed his plans for the holidays, and instead of going south he will do his riding on the West Coast circuit, where he will have no lack of engagements. The champion pacer Harold Logan claims an engagement at the Canterbury Park Club’s Meeting, the New Zealand Cup winner having been nominated for the chief two-mile event on the first day. Great Star has been paid up for in both the Auckland Cup and Railway Handicap. Christchurch papers suggest that the longer race will be his mission, and if he starts he will have the services of A. Eastwood in the saddle. There was not nearly as much rain last night at Wingatm as fell in the city, and still less fell in the North Taieri district. Still, what did fall at Wingatui was very acceptable and served to freshen up the grass and flower plots, which are now a blaze of colour. Knowing that the Dimedin Jockey Club is up against it financially, Mr Cousins, _ the well-known nurseryman of Mosgiel, _ recently supplied without charge sufficient seedling plants to plant out all the flower beds at Wingatui. This is- the sort of thoughtfulness that is going to keep the beauty of the gardens at the D.J.C. headquarters up to_ the high standard they have maintained for many years past. Beacon Fire, who won a hack race on each day of the Woodville Meeting, made a favourable impression at Trentham in October, and though he did not race up to expectations in some of his races at Riccarton his form there was good. His Woodville form suggests that he will have to be reckoned with in hack events at Auckland, where he will do his holiday racing. Beacon Firo is a three-year-old by Lackham from Mountain Signal, by Mountain Night from Signal March, by Bezonian from Pilgrim’s March, a Pilgrim’s Progress mare tracing back to imported Miss Kate. It is a family which has produced a number of good-class performers, and Beacon Fire may be found winning middle-distance handicaps before the end of the season. At the end of a two mile run at Addington on Thursday morning, in which they were under restraint most of the way. Free Advice was going better than Golden Pedro and Surprise Journey. Morrison, Tempest, Cannonball, and Lohengrin were associated in the same effort, but were eased up with a mile and a-half completed. The Shambles mare, Painkiller, well known; on Canterbury courses, was sent to Sydney some time ago, and she was tho medium of a betting coup at Victoria Park last week, when she ted all the way over a mile in lmin4oJsec. She is now owned and trained by R. Skelton, one of the best known men in thepony sport in Sydney. G. H. Humphries will resume riding at Waikouaiti on New Year’s Day, and he will be at Oamaru oq, the following day. The Riccarton mare, Wise Choice, will be one of his mounts, while he will be associated with Topere and other members of E. J. Ellis’s team. It is probable that he will go on to Invercargill for the second day of the Southand Racing Club’s Meeting. At Riccarton' on Thursday morning Meprisant and Riri were associated in a mile gallop on the plohgh, finishing practically abreast in Imin 45 3-ssec. The latter is to be ridden by D. O’Connor in the Trial Stakes on the first day of the Dunedin Meeting, and will be in keen demand. Kakara and Muff reeled off six furlongs in Imin 18sec, and Winsome Hind covered a similar journey in Imin 17 2-ssec. Red Heckle, with Convoy for a mate for six furlongs, traversed a mile in Imin 45 2-ssec, the last half in 53 2-ssoc. Charmeuse and Giggleswick recorded 50 l-ssec for the first four of seven furlongs, and completed the journey in Imin 29 4-ssec.

At the conclusion of Wednesday’s racing at Dannevirke the leaders in the winning trainers’ and jockeys’ list for the present season were as follows; Trainers: T. It. George 13, A. Tinker 11. Mrs A. M'Donald 10, E. J. Ellis 9, A. Cook 9, D. P. Wilson 8, E. George 8, L. G. Morris 8, J. T. Jamieson 8, J. T. Gray 8, H. E. Russell 8, E, D. Jones 7, S. J. Reid 6, J. Sullivan 6, C. Emmerson 6, G. Greene 6, and C. Gieseler 6. Jockeys: 11. Gray 39, H. Wiggins 26, L. G. Morris 21, B. H. Morris 16, K. Yoitro 16, S. Anderson 15, E. A. Kecsing 14, R. Reed 14, L. J. Ellis 13, H. Stockley 12, A. Eastwood 9, G. Humphries 9, S. Camtnick 9, T. Green 8. J. Dooley 8, J. M'Rae 8. W. Cooper 7, and A. E. Ellis 7. The acceptance list of twenty-one for the Auckland Trotting Cup. represents

a record, and as the quality also is good, interest in the contest is becoming very keen (says the Auckland ‘ Herald’). Two early favourites—Red Shadow and Regal Voyage—were among the four who dropped out, and favouritism now takes a, very wide range, with Royal Silk, Golden Pedro, Muriel de Oro, Pluto, Auto Machine, and Mountain Doll all well fancied. The Cup has not been a good raco for actual favourites, particularly in recent years. Last December Harold Logan, a very warm favourite, was beaten into second place by Carmel, who in recording 4 25 3-5 equalled Ahuriri’s race record created in 1927, when Machine Gun was favourite. In Gold Jacket’s two Cups, Prince Pointer and Dilworth were the respective first fancies,;